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Author
Topic: Three Mutations (Read 3640 times)

When I had my last appointment, my Dr. said something about the virus having three mutations. I meant to ask him exactly what that meant, but I got distracted (damned ADD) and forgot. He also said that it didn't show any resistance. Does anybody know what he meant by 'three mutations'? Thanks!

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

I also have mutations (2 of them). From what I've heard/understand, mutations do not HAVE to be drug resistant. They are just "abnormal" copies of HIV, due to the fact that HIV does not have the mechanism to "proofread" itself when it replicates (most cells do, and if they mutate, they kill themselves). But HIV doesn't have that proofreading "tool", so the mutations go on. Hope that makes sense.

My doc and nurse told me there's nothing to worry about - at least for now - with the mutations I have. Probably the case with you as well.

Three mutations? I've read that there are 30 mutational patterns associated with resistance to NRTIs alone, not to mention the other drug classes. My resistance profile showed 2 mutations to NRTIs, one for NNRTIs, four for PIs. They didn't test for fusion inhibitor mutations. Fortunately, all mutations are susceptible or maximally responsive to various meds.

Maybe he meant that YOUR resistance profile only showed three mutations. Did you get a look at it? It will list the drug class and mutation(s) to it, then list all the meds available and state whether it is susceptible to each med and to what extent. Ask them to let you have a copy. I keep a file of every lab result I've gotten.

The code from DNA to protein requires a series of three base pairs. For example GCT codes for Alanine. However, GCA, GCC and GCG also all code for alanine. Therefore HIV can bear the mutation A, C or G at the third position and the amino acid doesn't change. If you change either the first two, it will. In addition, HIV can mutate any one of the amino acids in a given protein sequence but not all lead to mutations that confer drug resistance. For example, Tyrosine 181 in reverse transcriptase changed to a cysteine (Y181C) is a common resistance mutation for many NNRTIs. However another amino acid nearby can mutate and have no influence on drug resistance. Think of it as a genetic drift rather than a gathering storm. It's just what HIV does. Mutate itself. If there is no drug resistance, then the mutations are benign.

If you want to see which mutations in HIV reverse transcriptase or protease confer drug resistance, then I can highly recommend the Stanford Drug resistance database. If you click on NRTI, NNRTI or PI in the bottom right hand corner it will tell you all the mutations that confer drug resistance. http://hivdb.stanford.edu/

R

« Last Edit: June 15, 2006, 12:54:19 AM by HIVworker »

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Her finely-touched spirit had still its fine issues, though they were not widely visible. Her full nature, like that river of which Cyrus broke the strength, spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth. But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

Three mutations? I've read that there are 30 mutational patterns associated with resistance to NRTIs alone, not to mention the other drug classes. My resistance profile showed 2 mutations to NRTIs, one for NNRTIs, four for PIs. They didn't test for fusion inhibitor mutations. Fortunately, all mutations are susceptible or maximally responsive to various meds.

Maybe he meant that YOUR resistance profile only showed three mutations. Did you get a look at it? It will list the drug class and mutation(s) to it, then list all the meds available and state whether it is susceptible to each med and to what extent. Ask them to let you have a copy. I keep a file of every lab result I've gotten.

I'm sorry, I should have been more clear. My tests showed three mutations. I generally get a copy of the lab results, but didn't the first time, as I was too nervous! Thanks.